Hiker makes grisly discovery in mysterious disappearance of backpacker at Philosopher Falls

Newly discovered human remains on the Australian island of Tasmania are believed to belong to Belgian backpacker Celine Cremer, who disappeared more than two years ago, according to police.

An Aussie hiker stumbled onto the bones this week near the Philosopher Falls in Waratah on the island’s west coast — near where the 31-year-old hiker went missing in June 2023.

“While forensic testing is yet to be completed, a pathologist has reviewed images and confirmed the remains are human,” Tasmanian Police Inspector Andrew Hanson said in a statement Wednesday.

“The volunteer contacted police immediately after the discovery, and officers from the Western District, along with specialist forensic personnel, are attending the scene.”

Hanson said the missing woman’s family in Belgium had been notified of the grisly discovery.

Cremer was last seen in Waratah on June 17, 2023, one day after her family last heard from her.

Authorities later found her car unattended.

In her final Facebook post, Celine shared a picture of herself standing atop Mount Wellington with the caption: “Un petit diable en Tasmanie” — A little devil in Tasmania.

Search teams were dispatched to search the surrounding area, but to no avail — with the only trace of her fate coming in December 2025, when her phone was found in thick brush near the walking trail.

That changed this week, when Jarrod Boys was hiking in the region and came upon human remains about two hours from a spot where Cremer’s possessions found when she first vanished, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported.

“The bones that I saw were just lying on top of a pile of soil and stones,” Boys told the outlet. “I guess I went into shock. I was very overwhelmed. I’m not a particularly emotional guy, but yeah, it was definitely an emotional experience for me.”

Tasmanian police said authorities are now waiting for tests to determine if it is the missing hiker.

“We understand how distressing this development may be for her loved ones, and while everyone involved hopes it will help to provide answers, formal forensic analysis is required before we can determine whether the remains belong to Celine,” Hanson said.

Police have not said if foul play is suspected.